Beyond Words - Language Blog

University of Illinois Accepting Applications for Fall 2014 MA in Translation and Interpreting

Earlier this year, we shared information with our readers about the new online MA in Translation and Interpreting program offered by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Representatives from the MA program recently told us that the launch was a great success.

The online program for translation professionals is now in its second year, and UIUC is accepting applications for Fall 2014. The application deadline is February 1, 2014, but applications will be accepted until the next cohort is full. More information is available at http://ma.translationandinterpreting.illinois.edu/.

You can also read about the program in UIUC’s press release below, or view a flyer with additional information by clicking here.

New Master’s Degree in Translation and Interpreting Offers Choice of Paths for Language Specialists

The University of Illinois is very proud to announce the debut of the Master of Arts in Translation and Interpreting program of study.

“Our new MA in Translation and Interpreting seeks to train students for the competitive and evolving job market by offering students the education and practical experiences that will give them the knowledge, skills, and tools to work at the highest levels of the field in a variety of jobs,” says Elizabeth Lowe, Director of the Center for Translation Studies, through which the program is offered.

Two unique course formats were designed to accommodate both those who may be focusing on professional work and others who are able to pursue advanced study in the more traditional manner. Students pursuing the online version of the program will complete individual courses consecutively, while those on campus take a few courses simultaneously.

An internationally diverse and accomplished array of faculty representing teaching- and research-focused centers across campus and offering instruction in 37 languages have aligned to share their expertise through the offerings of the Center for Translation Studies. Students in the new MA program choose from one of the following specializations: Translation for the Professions, Literary and Applied Literary Translation, and Conference and Community Interpreting.

Yajie Zhang is a member of the first cohort of students who began the on-campus program in August. Zhang, who is fluent in Chinese, English, and Japanese, came from Taiyuan, China, to the University of Illinois to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences and is thrilled about staying in Champaign-Urbana to pursue the MA in Translation and Interpreting.

“I love this community, the small size of my classes, and our great faculty!” said Zhang, adding that he really appreciates the practical aspects of his current classes. “I hope that software localization and subtitling can be a part of my future career.”

Eliot Sharpe Valadares, who lives in Tallahassee, Fla., where he teaches Spanish at a public high school, chose the online option for the MA program at CTS. Sharpe Valadares said he feels the university is “doing a wonderful job of supporting and helping online students grow professionally as well as academically.” He said he aspires to work within the growing area of Brazilian-American relations.

With only a few other master’s degree programs in translation currently available in the United States, Lowe anticipates interest and enrollment in the MA program at Illinois will grow quickly. Please visit http://www.translation.illinois.edu/programs/masters.html for a complete list of program requirements and application information.